Work Text:
Red finally slips out of the recording set. His dark hands fidget with the pack of cigarettes in his coat, the autumn wind sending a chill through him. The red Marlboro logo matched his locs, which gently fall over his face, despite how often he tries to move them away. He stares into the cityscape outside his studio, letting his mind wander.
Red’s so glad he got this opportunity, don’t get him wrong. He’d always known he wanted to make things for kids to enjoy. Red couldn’t turn down the older, balding man who took interest in his work like no one else ever had. The man, Roy, promised him a show where he could finally leave his stupid fucking desk job. He’d work with people as passionate as him, get to entertain, hell, he could even star! Despite Red knowing how lucky he is, something about Roy has always been… off.
Manny is Roy’s kid, who charmed Red from the beginning. The kid looks up at him with bright eyes whenever it's time to start filming, always asking questions about what they'll be doing and talking about how excited he is to shoot that day. Despite the kid's joy, Red couldn’t help but notice the small things. He couldn’t help but notice how he flinched around his father or how fidgety he got near him. He’d seen how bruises appeared on the boy in places that couldn’t be explained. He heard the crying when Roy went to check up on Manny after he made a mistake on stage, and how Manny's smile didn’t reach his eyes when Roy insisted he was fine.
Manny's sobs were why he came out to smoke in the first place.
Deep down, Red knew why he was turning a blind eye. He needed the money. Without Roy, Red wouldn’t be able to do any of this. Even if they had to do a weird sponsor every once in a while, the show kept going, and Roy kept providing. He tried his best not to think of the eight-year-old boy who tensed whenever his father entered the room.
God, can this thing work? Red thought to himself. His lighter got put out repeatedly by the wind, causing his brow to furrow. He focuses on trying to get his lighter to work while he hears the door next to him open.
“Hello. Do you mind if I’m out here with you?” Duck asked, looking up at Red. Duck is as polite as ever, wrapping his jacket tightly around himself. Red didn’t reply aside from a small nod. To be honest, Red did mind a bit. His co-host was awfully talkative, and Red just needed to… think.
Duck reached into his jacket, making a pitiful attempt at small talk. He was only met with noises of affirmation as Red refused to hold a conversation. Duck reached into his pocket for his cigarettes, before noticing Reds struggle to get one lit.
“Ah, are you having trouble with your lighter? Here, I have one myself.” Duck continued, despite Red's clear attempts to avoid conversation. He quickly lit his lighter between the two men, putting his cigarette in the flame as it dangles in his mouth. He looks up at Red, waiting for him to make any sort of move.
Resisting the urge to roll his eyes, Red puts his lighter in his pocket. His cigarette is held tightly between his lips, and he bends over to meet the flame. The coworkers look each other in the eye, a dark brown meeting hazel. They stare into each other for longer than needed, before Duck lets out a gentle “oh!” and pulls himself away. Red simply stands back up, satisfied that his Marlboro was finally lit.
Duck stumbled over his words, before electing to say nothing at all. He tried his best to casually smoke, while sneaking glances at Red. Red stared forward, still thinking of Roy and Manny.
“So, uh, Red, I was actually ju-“
“Do you feel like something's wrong, Duck?”
“…I do.”
Duck is finally quiet. Red and Duck stand together, words unsaid but understood. Soon they will go back to their show and act as if everything is fine. But for now, they share a moment of silence over an alive child.